Tag Archives: opera

The Italian opera L’incoronazione di Poppea was composed by Claudio Monteverdi in 1643. It portrays a story about the Roman Emperor Nero, his lover Poppea, the empress Ottavia and Ottone, a noble lord. When the queen, due to jealousy, orders the death of Poppea through Ottone, Love protects the victim. The two conspirators are then exiled by Nero, Poppea is crowned empress and once again love reigns.

Henry Purcell (1659 – 1695) was the most influential English baroque composer, together with German-born George Frederic Handel. He was born in the town of Westminster, England. He had two brothers, Edward and Daniel, the latter was a great composer as well. When he was five years old, Henry’s father died, and he went to live with his uncle.

Purcell began to compose when he was nine years old, and his first public work was an ode for the king’s birthday, which Henry composed at age eleven. After many years of experience, the Englishman composed an opera which would continue to be produced with great success centuries later: Dido and Aeneas.

Meeting of Dido and Aeneas

Dido and Aeneas is an opera in three acts based upon Virgil’s Aeneid. It tells the story, using dramatic music and lyrics, of the beautiful Queen Dido of Carthage and the Trojan Aeneas. Dido and Aeneas fall in love when he sails to Carthage. But a sorceress, who wants to destroy Carthage and it’s queen, decides to deceive Aeneas into leaving Carthage, breaking Dido’s heart. This, she concludes, would successfully end the queen’s life and reign. Continue reading →